Roland Emmerich to Direct Alien Invasion Film ‘The Zone’ (Updated)

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The top-secret project plans to employ the “found footage” gimmick that has become popular of late

(Update 11/9: "The Zone" has shut down just a week before production was scheduled to start, and Roland Emmerich is no longer pursuing the project, according to the Hollywood Reporter.)

"Independence Day" director Roland Emmerich is preparing to direct another alien invasion movie titled "The Zone," according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The stealth project will reportedly employ the "found footage" gimmick that has become popular thanks to hit movies such as "The Blair Witch Project," "Cloverfield" and "Paranormal Activity."

Emmerich plans to populate the picture with relatively unknown actors whose performances will be largely improvised.

While plot details are being kept under wraps (where else?), THR claims that two of the leads have already been cast, including a middle-aged journalist and a twenty-something African American cameraman.

The project is budgeted at $5 million, which is a lot less than what Emmerich had to work with on blockbusters such as "Godzilla" and "The Day After Tomorrow." He's coming off the modestly-budgeted period political thriller "Anonymous," which stars Rhys Ifans ("Spider-Man") as Edward De Vere, the man who is rumored to have written many of William Shakespeare's plays.

French filmmaker Guillaume Tunzini wrote "The Zone," and Loucas George will produce the film, which will begin production in mid-November. Sony will reportedly distribute the movie, having released Emmerich's disaster film "2012" last year.